Independence High, a massive school with more than 4000
students, hosts its first playoff game in well over a decade when
Gilroy visits East San Jose Saturday night.
Think the fifth-seeded Mustangs might be going into a den of
noise, excitement and fired-up fans?
Well, not exactly.
Independence High, a massive school with more than 4000 students, hosts its first playoff game in well over a decade when Gilroy visits East San Jose Saturday night.
Think the fifth-seeded Mustangs might be going into a den of noise, excitement and fired-up fans?
Well, not exactly.
“I would guess half the students have no idea we’re even playing,” 76ers’ coach Joe Cattolico said. “The school is kind of a funny place. The climate here for sports is a little different than at most schools.
“Our players are excited about the game. Let’s put it that way.”
And so it is at Independence.
It’s a school that’s the largest in the Bay Area and a program that’s making its fourth straight CCS appearance – yet it still has that undeniable feel of an underdog.
There’s not much emphasis put on athletics and the money received from the district reflects that. In addition, lack of interest always leads to depth issues and for the players who do suit up, “it’s a yearly struggle to find equipment,” said Cattolico, who took over a program coming off an 0-10 season in 1999.
“We do feel a little bit of that underdog status,” he said. “I don’t think very many schools with our resources and our socio-economic status, make it to the playoffs very often.”
And therein lies the key. Despite a few obstacles, they are competitive.
Even though they haven’t escaped the CCS first round in three consecutive tries, the 76ers are putting together a nice string of playoff appearances – and view 2004 as their best chance at success yet.
Behind a relentless running attack, Independence finished the regular season 7-2-1, going 4-2-1 in the Mt. Hamilton division of BVAL. Hampered at times by an inconsistent defense, the Sixers closed with a 13-3 loss at Silver Creek and a 33-33 tie against Pioneer.
Go back a week, however, and you’ll find a 40-35 defeat of previously undefeated Leigh. In that game, junior Quentrel Hunter ran for 307 yards and added a mere five touchdowns for good measure – this coming a week after a 303-yard performance at Branham.
“He’ll be the best pure tailback we’ve faced all year,” Gilroy head coach Darren Yafai said. “I would say him and (GHS tailback) Justin (Sweeney) are very similar.”
While Hunter is a little bigger and Sweeney is a little quicker, both are slashers and both have put up monster numbers.
Sweeney (1661 yds) and Hunter (1546 yds) rank 2-3 in the Central Coast Section and 1-2 among “A” league teams.
Hunter, who ranks third in CCS with 20 touchdowns, isn’t alone on the run-happy Sixers, though. Junior Robert Phillips (10) and senior Tyler Osborne (5) combined for 15 more touchdowns, while an injury-marred Phillips managed to contribute 776 yards. All three averaged over seven yards a carry.
Of course, a gigantic offensive line hasn’t hurt matters. Cattolico, who won a CCS title coaching Overfelt in 1998, called the unit the strength of the team and said he’s never coached a bigger group.
The O-line averages 285 pounds, includes a 320-pound center and is anchored by a highly recruited senior tackle, John Merritt-Sharp.
“They’re big,” Yafai said. “We play in a league of large offensive lines, but this is the largest.
“And they love to run the ball. They’ll pound out five yards, seven yards, five yards and then more often than not, the back will take it to the house. It’s a pretty explosive running attack.”
Like many of their teammates, though, those running backs play both ways for the 76ers. All three spent plenty of time in the secondary, along with teammate Calvin Carter, a starter at both quarterback and defensive back.
The starting fullback also starts at linebacker. The starting tight end starts at linebacker. A pair of starting O-linemen start on the D-line.
You get the idea.
“Usually our 11 guys are as good as the ones across from them, but it’s just a matter of wearing down after awhile,” Cattolico said. “We’re a little bit deeper this year, but all the two-way still makes it tough.”
Tough indeed.
At gigantic, apathetic Independence High, it’s never really easy.
CCS FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS (First round)
OPEN DIVISION
Friday: No. 7 St. Ignatius (7-3) at No. 2 Los Gatos (8-1-1), 7pm
Friday: No. 5 St. Francis (8-2) at No. 4 Leigh (9-1), 7pm
Saturday: No. 6 Serra (8-2) at No. 3 Aragon (9-1), 1pm
Saturday: No. 8 Palma (7-2-1) at No. 1 Valley Christian (9-1), 1pm
LARGE SCHOOL DIVISION
Friday: No. 7 Milpitas (5-4-1) at No. 2 San Benito (7-2-1), 7pm
Friday: No. 8 Live Oak (8-2) at No. 1 Oak Grove (8-2), 7pm
Saturday: No. 6 Santa Teresa (9-1) at No. 3 Wilcox (7-2-1), 7pm
Saturday: No. 5 Gilroy (7-3) at No. 4 Independence (7-2-1), 7pm
MEDIUM SCHOOL DIVISION
Friday: No. 7 Monterey (8-2) at No. 2 Palo Alto (7-3), 7pm
Friday: No. 5 Aptos (4-4-1) at No. 4 Terra Nova (6-4), 7pm
Saturday: No. 6 Westmont (7-3) at No. 3 Mountain View (7-3), 1pm
Saturday: No. 8 Evergreen Valley (7-3) at No. 1 Woodside (10-0), 7pm
SMALL SCHOOL DIVISION
Friday: No. 7 San Lorenzo Valley (5-5) at No. 2 Burlingame (8-2), 7pm
Friday: No. 8 Seaside (8-2) at No. 1 Pacific Grove (9-1), 7pm
Saturday: No. 5 Pioneer (6-3-1) at No. 4 Soquel (7-3), 1pm
Saturday: No. 6 Carmel (6-4) at No. 3 Santa Cruz (7-2-1), 7pm
